Outdoors

1,017 miles paddled in one day

WAITSFIELD, Vt. — The Northern Forest Canoe Trail has extended a thank you to all who paddled last Saturday as part of our annual 740 Miles in One Day event. The paddlers collectively paddled 1,017 miles.

While the theme of the day was distance, the real point was to increase the number of paddlers who experience the Northern Forest Canoe Trail and support local outfitters, paddle shops and general stores. This year there were 159 participants — almost triple last year’s total.

Trail administrators also announced that more than 40 members donated $23,300 to this year’s stewardship appeal. Trail Fund dollars are immediately put to work on the NFCT funding projects and repairs. Donations postmarked by June 30 were entered into a raffle. Jo-Anne and Dan McCoy of Vermont won a new Gregory backpack courtesy of the White Wolf Inn in Stratton, Maine. Donations are stil being accepted and gifts of $75 receive an NFCT water bottle.

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Northern Forest Explorers

In other trail news, eight Northern Forest Explorers trips have been taken so far this season so far, and close to 90 children from trailside communities from Maine to the Adirondacks have new outdoor skills, a better understanding of their connection to the environment within the NFCT watershed, and a stronger set of personal values. A parent recently wrote about her participant daughter, “She will be able to take on any challenge that life gives her in the future. She now describes herself as “adventurous” and I don’t think she would have used that adjective previously.” Four more trips to go!